A philosophy through implementation plan for creating a disciple-centered training in the church. Based heavily on Jesus' training of the disciples, Bill Hull lays out a picture of a church that shows, teaches, walks with, leads, and unleashes disciples to the world. The solution to the churches problems, he says, is in discipleship. His plan is seemingly very elaborate. It involves heavy training and testing and guidance, but the end result is willing ministers to decentralize the ministry of the pastor. In other words, the Pastor is freed from the day-to-day ministry time-killers, and other people in the church are able to use their gifts to the fullest. The result is minister-members and a Pastor-coach to lead them. Bill Hull gives some great development of the Pastor as coach concept. He lays out the pastoral responsibility as a encourager, motivator, confronter, even a participator, but not the only player. Great. Long chapters make this one a little slow getting through, but the first 8 chapters are packed with solid stuff. Skip 9...It is not worth it. I promise.

I liked this one. Ever since my leadership training and discipleship group at Northland the last two summers, I have been burdened for this kind of discipleship--One-on-one and small group training to impress the burdens and heart of a ministry on other eager disciples. This book lays out why discipleship-centered ministry is so important, who is to be involved, what difficulties you will face in implementing it, when to start, and how to go about laying it out. I think Hull's strongest sections are the first four. The implementation of it is a little weak. He describes the end result merely as training a disciple to go out and join a rec league and help out at the rescue mission. That's great, but I see a disciple as one who takes up discipling others…evangelizing and discipling.

Bill Hull's ministry experience shines a little to glaringly at a couple of points as he rants on about church's inability to change, petty arguing, and other pad church problems.

All in all, a solid foundation for starting this type of ministry in a church. Good philosophy, good tips . . . Not perfect, but I guess it drives you back to the True Discipler . . . our Savior. Worth the cost for the thoughts it provokes, and for bringing the importance of disciple-making back to the forefront of our ministry.